Significant Barriers Prevent People with MS from Fully Committing to Treatment Regimen, New Survey Reveals

... Support networks and treatment choices can have a vital impact in hel... patients start and stay on therapy ...DENVER May 28 /- Nearly all people (97 percent) withmul...The survey which interviewed 220 people in the United States andCana...

Support networks and treatment choices can have a vital impact in helping

patients start and stay on therapy

DENVER, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly all people (97 percent) with
multiple sclerosis (MS) who have started treatment say their commitment to
managing their disease in every way possible is their prime motivation for
staying on therapy, according to a new North American survey of people with
MS, results of which were released today at the Consortium of Multiple
Sclerosis Centers annual meeting in Denver. However, the survey also found
that people with the disease can face significant barriers that make it
difficult for them to start or stay fully committed to an effective
treatment regimen.(1)

The survey, which interviewed 220 people in the United States and
Canada who have been diagnosed with MS in the past five years, uncovered a
number of barriers patients face to starting and staying on medication,
including the affordability of prescription medicine, injection-related
issues and side effects, and the difficulty of maintaining a medication
schedule.(1)

"Studies have shown that starting effective therapy soon after a
diagnosis of MS and continuing that therapy on a consistent basis may
significantly slow the progression of the disease.(2) This survey
underscores the fact that despite their best intentions, many people with
MS need help overcoming challenges that keep them from fully committing to
treatment," said Amy Perrin Ross, APRN, MSN, CNRN, MSCN, president of the
International Organization of MS Nurses. "The good news is there are
several things that can be done to help give patients the best chance of
starting and staying on therapy, including exploring financial assistance
programs, forming lasting partnerships with an MS nurse and other
supporters and choosing an effective MS medication that addresses a
patient's personal hurdles. This can mean looking at attributes of a
medication such as proven efficacy and safety, storage requirements, and
the availability of support programs and financial assistance."

According to Ross, newly diagnosed patients first must accept the fact
that they have a chronic illness that requires life-long care. For many,
anxieties about treatment can be overcome by the desire to limit the impact
of their condition, and by understanding that early, effective and
consistent treatment may positively affect the course of their disease. In
fact, more than two-thirds of respondents in the survey agreed, "I would
have started treatment earlier (after my first attack, even before official
diagnosis) if I had known that it would better decrease the risk of
disability.(1) But, Ross added, many patients require ongoing support in
order to maintain that commitment.

In the recent survey, patients cited various injection-related issues
as being significant barriers to their committing to therapy. Four in 10
patients (41 percent) named at least one injection side effect as an
extremely or very strong barrier keeping them from staying on medication,
such as skin reactions (14 percent) and lumps in the skin (10 percent).(1)
When Genelle, age 29, was diagnosed with MS, she experienced skin-related
side effects with her first medication. "I was really unhappy with the
painful and embarrassing side effects that I was experiencing," she said.
"Once I switched to another medication called Betaseron(R)*, the side
effects improved."(a)

Like the 21 percent of study respondents who reported not wanting to
inject themselves as a barrier to taking an MS medication, Genelle also had
some misgivings about the required self-injections. "With Betaseron, I not
only had to give myself far fewer injections, the BETA nurse assigned to me
helped me overcome my anxiety about injecting myself. I can call her any
time I need her, which has really given me the support I need to stay on
therapy," she said.(a)

For Jillian, age 19, the issue of staying on treatment had to do with
affording her medicine, a barrier also noted by 27 percent of people
surveyed.(1) "The day I learned I had MS, I vowed to do everything I could
to fight the disease. So when my doctor recommended treatment, I followed
his advice," Jillian said. "But my commitment was challenged when I
recently lost my insurance. With only three doses of my medication left and
no possible way to pay for another prescription, I was going to lose the
one thing that was going well for me. My doctor told me that I could
continue receiving my medicine through a company-sponsored patient
assistance program. It's one of the benefits of the BETAPLUS(TM)(b) program
that patients on Betaseron can sign up for. It was a great relief and
allowed me to continue my fight against the disease."

Participants in the survey noted that worries about how to store
medicine while traveling or away from home (9 percent) also diminish their
commitment to treatment. Factors cited by survey participants that make it
easier to stay on medication include family support (84 percent), drug
company-sponsored support such as materials or Web sites (60 percent) and a
nurse provided by a drug company (43 percent).(1)

The survey was conducted by Russell Research and funded by Bayer
HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.(1)

About Betaseron

Betaseron (Interferon beta-1b) is indicated for the treatment of
relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical
exacerbations. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been
demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first clinical episode
and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis.

A number of factors have been shown to influence a person's perceived
comfort and satisfaction associated with MS medications, including number
of injections, product formulation and patient support. Betaseron therapy
requires half as many injections as Copaxone(R)* (glatiramir acetate).(3)
Additionally, in a study, significantly more Betaseron than Rebif(R)*
patients were pain-free at all time points measured (immediately after
injection, and 30 and 60 minutes after injection) over the course of 15
injections.(4) Betaseron also does not require refrigeration(c), making
travel and transporting medicine easier. The 24/7 nursing support through
the BETAPLUS(TM) program (formerly known as MS Pathways(SM)*) and
comprehensive patient assistance for those qualified patients(d) unable to
afford treatment are other benefits that can help patients stay committed
to Betaseron treatment.

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are lymphopenia,
injection- site reaction, asthenia, flu-like symptom complex, headache and
pain. Gradual dose titration and use of analgesics during treatment
initiation may help reduce flu-like symptoms. Betaseron should be used with
caution in patients with depression. Injection-site necrosis has been
reported in four percent of patients in controlled trials. Patients should
be advised of the importance of rotating injection sites. Female patients
should be warned about the potential risk to pregnancy. Cases of
anaphylaxis have been reported rarely. See "Warnings," "Precautions," and
"Adverse Reactions" sections of full Prescribing Information. More
information, including the full Prescribing Information, is available at
http://www.betaseron.com.

About Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the U.S.-based pharmaceuticals
business of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a subsidiary of Bayer AG. Bayer
HealthCare is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the
healthcare and medical products industry, and combines the activities of
the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals
divisions. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals comprises the following
business units: Women's Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine,
which includes Cardiology and Primary Care and Specialty Medicine, which
includes Hematology, Oncology and Multiple Sclerosis. The company's aim is
to discover and manufacture products that will improve human health
worldwide by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current
assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material
differences between the actual future results, financial situation,
development or performance of the company and the estimates given here.
These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (including Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability
whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to
future events or developments.

(a) These results are with one patient and not everyone may experience the

same results.

(b) BETAPLUS is the new name for the MS Pathways(SM) program.

(c) Betaseron is the only immunomodulatory MS therapy that can be stored

at room temperature for greater than 30 days. After reconstitution,

if not immediately used, the product should be refrigerated and used

within 3 hours.

(d) Some restrictions apply. Patients enrolled in any type of government

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